Dog Friends

[Feb. 16, 1889.]



The following story of friendship between two dogs may, I think,

interest some of your readers. Some time ago I used often to stay with a

friend in Wiltshire, whose park is separated from the house by a lake

which is about a hundred and fifty yards broad at the narrowest part.

Being extremely fond of animals, I soon became intimate with two

delightful dogs belonging to my hostess, a large collie, called Jasper,

and a rough Skye terrier, Sandie. The pair were devoted friends, if

possible always went out together, and, sad to relate, even poached

together. One afternoon I called them, as usual, to go for a walk, and

making my way to the lake, I determined to row across and wander about

in the deer-park. Without thinking of my two companions, I got into the

boat and pushed off. Jasper at once jumped into the water and gaily

followed the boat; half way across he and I were both startled by

despairing howls, and stopping to look back, we saw poor little Sandie

running up and down the bank, and bitterly bewailing the cruelty of his

two so-called friends in leaving him behind. Hardening my heart, I sat

still in silence, and simply watched. Jasper was clearly distressed; he

swam round the boat, and looking up into my face, said unmistakably with

his wise brown eyes, "Why don't you go to the rescue?" Seeing, however,

that I showed no signs of intelligence, he made up his mind to settle

the difficulty himself, so turned and swam back to forlorn little

Sandie; there was a moment's pause, I suppose for explanations, and

then, to my surprise and amusement, Jasper stood still, half out and

half in the water, and Sandie scrambled on to his back, his front paws

resting on Jasper's neck, who swam across the lake and landed him safely

in the deer-park! I need not describe the evident pride of the one, or

the gratitude of the other.



ROY.